A few General Remarks on Angling. 145 



Do this, in order that, upon deliberation, sound judg- 

 ment, and experience, and from the true nature and 

 causes of things and their circumstances, you may be 

 able to draw conclusions for your improvement in the 

 art of Angling 



" Felix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas." 



All scaly-fish swim in shoals, and often mix company. 

 When fish of any sort are hog-backed, and small-headed, 

 they are in the best season. 



Open the first fish you catch when Fly-fishing ; ob- 

 serve the colour of the flies he has taken, and fit up your 

 tackle accordingly. 



All fish that take flies sometimes take them the best 

 on the top, sometimes best a little under the water. 



In the day fish chiefly seek their food by sight; in 

 the night, by smelling ; so fish accordingly : though some 

 writers say they see equally as well in the dark as the 

 light. 



There is no use in angling for large fish the next day 

 after a dark or windy night, unless the evening of that 

 day be cloudy or windy ; for in dark or windy nights 

 the best fish feed most, and glut themselves, and conse- 

 quently will not bite so soon after. 



Fish rise or bite badly when there is any snow-broth 

 in the river where you fisfy. 



Fish bite badly the same day there has been a sharp 

 frost, unless in the evening, and it be fresh weather 

 again. 



The best time for angling, between the llth of March 

 and the 1st of June, is from sun-rising till 12 o'clock, 

 and from 2 till 6 o'clock ; between the 1st of June and the 

 24th of August, from before sun-rising till 10 o'clock, 

 and from 3 till 8, or all night when the weather is fine ; 

 and, from the 24th of August to the llth of September, 

 from sun-rising till 12, and from 2 till 6 o'clock. 

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